At KICF, our goal is to foster a sustainable musical community, within Kenya and beyond. To support this community, our focus is both top/down and bottom/up. We have experienced unrivaled enthusiasm for music in Kenya, along with a pre-existing network of string players. To ensure long term sustainability, we regularly engage with three groups: 

NEW AUDIENCES

We regularly present interactive performances for kids and adults alike. Many of our audience members have never seen a violin before. We also host masterclasses both online and in person for any Kenyan who wants to join. Recent visits include Dream Children’s Home for orphaned children.

COMMUNITY STRING PROJECT

Our KICF student Collins Odhiambo introduces young musicians to the violin at the St Teresia Academy in Kilungu. In our past we have engaged our students with teaching opportunities in Laikipia County as well as with the Thika School for the Visually Impaired. Additionally KICF student chamber music groups present performances in the Greater Nairobi for underserved communities.

PARTICIPANTS

We work intensely with a core group of veteran string players both online and in person. Several players receive weekly Zoom coaching; each teaches students of their own. Twice a year, we hold live festivals on the ground in Kenya. Partnering with St Andrew’s School, we host week long workshops, where we perform 4-6 concerts per festival, reaching audiences of over 1000 per trip. In June 2024, we offered a 10 day Luthier Repair Workshop to a group of KICF participants. They each received a tool kit upon completion. They hit the ground running; several have already gone into business repairing instruments in their own communities.